Drake Lindsey shook off two first-half interceptions and delivered the throw Minnesota needed most, finding Darius Taylor for the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter as the Gophers knocked off No. 24 Michigan 20-14 on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Minnesota’s defense did the rest, smothering Bryce Underwood and turning the Little Brown Jug back to the home side for the first time in 49 years in front of a roaring crowd that spilled onto the field after the final whistle. The win was Minnesota’s first against Michigan since 2014, and it moved the Gophers to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play.
For Michigan, the afternoon kept sliding the wrong way. The Wolverines fell to 3-2 and 0-2 in the league, and they’ve now come up short of 20 points in four of five games under new coach Kyle Whittingham.
Underwood finished 10 of 21 for 101 yards and added 20 rushing yards on 10 carries. Michigan’s offense never found a rhythm after halftime, and the Wolverines managed just 24 plays for 82 yards in the second half. Their last chance was as rough as the rest of the day: Underwood’s fourth-and-5 throw from midfield with 37 seconds left sailed out of bounds.
Minnesota had already spent plenty of time recovering from its own mistakes. Smith Snowden intercepted an off-balance Lindsey pass in the first quarter, with Troy Bowles in the quarterback’s face, and Michigan turned that takeaway into a Jordan Marshall touchdown run. Then, with 2:48 left before halftime, Minnesota native Nathaniel Staehling - a North Dakota State transfer - returned an interception 79 yards for a score to put Michigan ahead 14-7.
But the Gophers kept winning the hidden battles. Aydan West and Zack Harden each came up with second-half interceptions that helped set up Minnesota scores. The defense kept the pressure on, and the Wolverines never recovered.
The win came on a day that felt made for Minnesota. Fox brought its “Big Noon Kickoff” show to campus for the first time, and Huntington Bank Stadium was packed with maroon and gold in alternating sections.
P.J. Fleck even crowd-surfed from the studio stage into a sea of students in front of the hockey arena across the street.
It also came after an early start that asked plenty of both teams, though Minnesota’s body clocks had even less time to adjust after last week’s 27-24 win at Washington - the Gophers’ first road victory since Nov. 29, 2024, at Wisconsin.
Michigan’s special teams added to the frustration. Andrew Marsh muffed a punt return, and Minnesota recovered at the 17 to set up one of two short field goals for the Gophers.
That was part of Minnesota’s formula in Big Ten play: winning the margins. Luke Drzewiecki, a transfer from New Mexico, has not missed a field goal or an extra point, and the Gophers committed just one penalty for 5 yards.
The matchup also carried a little extra juice because Michigan’s late collapse in a 20-19 loss to Iowa last week had already taken some shine off the national spotlight. Still, the result mattered plenty to Minnesota, which celebrated the return of the Little Brown Jug in front of its own fans.
Minnesota plays at Purdue on Oct. 10.
Michigan has next week off before hosting Penn State on Oct. 17.
In Other News...
Gophers Beat Michigan But The Polls Still Sent A Message
Beating Michigan should have been the kind of result that changes a teams standing in a hurry, especially for a Minnesota group with so much history working against it in that matchup. Instead, the latest AP and Coaches Polls delivered a more modest verdict on the Gophers, who sat just outside the top 25 after the win and had to settle for being an also-considered team in both rankings.
Minnesota collected 19 votes in the AP Poll, tied for 32nd, and 40 in the Coaches Poll, which placed it 33rd. For a program that finally banked a signature victory over the Wolverines, the message from the voters was clear enough: the win mattered, but not enough to fully change perceptions yet. [Read more 🡒]
PJ Fleck Had A Wild Postgame Moment Gophers Fans Will Love
P.J. Fleck has never been shy about turning a Minnesota football win into a full-blown moment, and his latest postgame celebration fit right into that reputation. After the Gophers recent victory, the coach celebrated by drinking from the Little Brown Jug, the old trophy tied to the programs rivalry with Michigan and one of the more recognizable symbols in Big Ten football.
It also came with the kind of edge and theatrics that have long defined Flecks sideline style in Minneapolis. Fans have seen him lean into the emotion before, including the memorable moment after the Washington win when he wiped a players blood on his face, and those scenes help explain why his tenure keeps drawing attention beyond the box score. With his coaching record and contract status always part of the broader conversation, Fleck remains one of the most distinctive figures in the sport, especially when the wins start piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Waste Strong Start In Frustrating Season Opener Loss
A delayed start and a promising opening quickly gave way to a frustrating night for Minnesota, which opened its 2026-27 season with a 3-2 loss to Michigan Tech at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Gophers did enough early to put themselves in position, getting goals from Tate Pritchard and Beckett Hendrickson while Luca Di Pasquo turned aside several dangerous chances in net.
Michigan Tech still found a way to finish the job, scoring the winner late in the third period and sending Minnesota home with a loss in its first game of the year. For a team trying to set the tone right away, the mix of a slow rink, a strong start and a late collapse made this one feel like a missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]